The Importance of Being Burnished.
A little while ago, I posted a flyer for the DC <3 Dilla benefit that I was a bit excited to go to. “Live J Dilla tracks? I’m there,” I thought. Perhaps in my mind I had the idea of the concert being reminiscent of sessions like the Roots’ Dilla Joints, which I had on repeat up until the show. I even heard that The Pharcyde would be special guests.
I ended up leaving early (even before Pharcyde showed up), in part to catch the last train home, but also because I was really underwhelmed by the whole experience. Two things really bugged me:
1.) the show seemed disjointed, without any organization; and
2.) the band, Jon Laine and the Players, while I’m sure are all individually talented, did not sound tight as a group, by any means.
Part of the reason why there is nothing like a Roots show, in my opinion, is due to those two main factors. Firstly, they can put together a SHOW, straight up and down. No filler, no talking, no skits, no pauses. I’ve seen them, in a single show, back up a cast of my personal favorites, including Little Brother, J Live, Dice Raw, Jean Grae, and a slew of others — without any set breaks. Secondly, I’m willing to even excuse a somewhat-less-virtuosic player (read: Kamal) when the band as an entire collective is just plain tight. And musicians who have been playing together for a good while know each other’s tendencies and limits, and can be exactly that.
I hereby vow, on this date, never to subject audiences to a low-energy, lackluster show, regardless of circumstance. Not being able to deliver on at least one, if not both, of those criteria mentioned, is inexcusable, and shall never be. You have my word.
That being said, come out and see me play with Ramzy and the Brothers Handsome on Friday evening at 7 @ The Potter’s House (1658 Columbia Road NW) and on Saturday night at an certain-to-be-funky house party @ 1647 Hobart St NW.
-BrotherSpanky
